Evaluation and treatment of congenital and developmental anomalies of the cervical spine. Invited submission from the Joint Section Meeting on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2004

Arnold H Menezes

doi:10.3171/spi.2004.1.2.0188

Back

Evaluation and treatment of congenital and developmental anomalies of the cervical spine. Invited submission from the Joint Section Meeting on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2004

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Evaluation and treatment of congenital and developmental anomalies of the cervical spine. Invited submission from the Joint Section Meeting on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2004

Arnold H Menezes

Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, Vol.1(2), pp.188-197

09/2004

DOI: 10.3171/spi.2004.1.2.0188

PMID: 15347005

View Online

Abstract

Congenital and developmental osseous abnormalities of the cervical spine can result in neural compression ranging from the medulla oblongata to the cervicothoracic spinal cord junction. These may present in infancy as scoliosis and even limb weakness. A high index of suspicion is essential. Neurodiagnostic imaging relies on high-resolution computerized tomography (CT) scanning and three-dimensional CT reconstructions as well as magnetic resonance imaging and angiography. The anatomical/physiological CT factors considered when developing a surgical approach are: 1) the stability and reducibility of the lesions; 2) direction and manner of encroachment of the lesion on the neural structures; 3) neural and vascular abnormalities; and 4) growth potential of the affected area. Primary stabilization is required for reducible lesions, whereas irreducible lesions are decompressed in the manner in which encroachment has occurred. Instability, whether present before or after operative intervention, required spinal stabilization. Illustrative examples of this approach are presented.

Spinal Curvatures - surgery

Spinal Diseases - congenital

Cervical Vertebrae - abnormalities

Spinal Diseases - surgery

Humans

Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods

Child, Preschool

Magnetic Resonance Angiography

Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods

Infant

Male

Spinal Cord Compression - etiology

Spinal Fusion

Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods

Decompression, Surgical

Joint Instability - surgery

Cervical Vertebrae - surgery

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Spinal Curvatures - diagnosis

Adolescent

Female

Thoracic Vertebrae - pathology

Child

Details

Title: Subtitle: Evaluation and treatment of congenital and developmental anomalies of the cervical spine. Invited submission from the Joint Section Meeting on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2004
Creators: Arnold H Menezes - Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. arnold-menezes@uiowa.edu
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, Vol.1(2), pp.188-197
DOI: 10.3171/spi.2004.1.2.0188
PMID: 15347005
NLM abbreviation: J Neurosurg Spine
ISSN: 1547-5654
eISSN: 1547-5646
Publisher: American Association of Neurological Surgeons; United States
Language: English
Date published: 09/2004
Academic Unit: Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Neurosurgery; Otolaryngology
Record Identifier: 9984040397902771

Metrics

29 Record Views

21 Times Cited - Web of Science